Visa’s catch cry is “everywhere you want to be” and when it comes to credit cards, it certainly delivers. As well as offering all the traditional features, Visa has embraced new technology to help you make purchases quickly and easily, whether in person or online.

Visa is one of three main credit cards issuers in the world, and in Australia they’ve partnered up with a large number of banks and credit unions.

What type of Visa credit card would suit me best?

There are three key things you need to look at when deciding on a credit card:

Fees

Interest rates

Rewards

These key points vary significantly between the different types of Visa credit cards currently available. It’s important to note that banks and credit unions actually issue the cards, not Visa, and so the features and fees depend heavily on the financial institution.

There are ‘standard’ Visa credit cards, which offer zero or low fees, as well as a few perks. Then there are ‘gold’ Visa credit cards, which suit moderate to high spenders as they offer good dollar-for-dollar rewards and features. Then there are ‘platinum’ Visa credit cards, which are popular with big spenders as they offer premium perks and rewards but often require a significant minimum spend.

RateCity has a handy comparison tool to help you see the key differences between credit cards currently on offer.

What perks and services do Visa credit card holders have access to?

Just like Mastercard and American Express, there is an enormous list of rewards and perks including free travel, frequent flyer points, cashback and shopping. However, Visa does offer some exclusive services.

One special feature of Visa credit cards is users can pre-purchase tickets to concerts and gigs before they go on sale to the public.

Visa has also come up some clever new technology that’s made using your credit card even easier.

These include:

Visa payWave – This allows you to pay for purchases by tapping your credit card or smartphone or Visa-branded wearable, including newly designed Visa-branded sunglasses

Visa Checkout – Visa offers an in-app payment service that reduces the number of steps it takes to make a payment online when you’re using your smartphone or tablet

Visa Direct– This is a platform that lets you simply transfer funds from your bank account or payment card to another personal or business account using a smartphone, tablet or the internet

How can I apply for a Visa credit card?

Like any credit card, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, and prove you have employment or a reliable income.

Banks and credit unions usually require the following documents;

A copy of your driver’s licence

A copy of your passport or Medicare card

Proof of income in the form of recent payslips, or an ATO tax statement or a letter of employment

Employer or accountant contact details

Wait times vary between providers, but usually if your application is successful, your Visa credit card would arrive within five to 10 days.

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FAQs

A balance transfer credit card lets you transfer your debt balance from one credit card to another. Designed to incentivise customers to switch banks, a balance transfer credit card generally has a 0 per cent interest rate for a set period of time. When you roll your debt balance over to a new credit card, you’ll be able to take advantage of the interest-free period to pay your credit card debt off faster without accruing additional interest charges. Applying for a balance transfer credit card is relatively straightforward. When your application is approved, the provider will pay out your old credit card and transfer your debt balance over to the new card. There are plenty of balance transfer offers available on the market with 0 per cent interest rates available from six to 24 months.

When managed properly, credit cards can be a convenient way to access cash and reap rewards. As convenient as they can be, it’s important to keep on top of your repayments so you don’t end up paying more in interest than the item originally cost. Each month, you’ll get a credit card statement detailing how much you owe and how long it will take to pay off the balance by making minimum repayments. If you only make the minimum repayments, it will take you years to pay off your outstanding balance and add extra costs in interest charges. To avoid any extra charges, you should pay the entire bill.

Think of credit cards as a short-term loan where you use the bank’s money to buy something up front and then pay for it later. Unlike a debit card which uses your own money to pay, a credit card essentially borrows the bank’s money to fund the purchase. When you apply for a credit card, the bank assesses your income and assigns you a credit limit based on what you can afford to pay back. At the end of each billing cycle, which is usually monthly, the bank will send you a statement showing the minimum amount you have to pay back, including any interest payable on the balance.

A credit card is a payment method which lets you pay for goods and services without using your own money. It’s essentially a short-term loan which lets you borrow the bank’s money to pay for things which you can pay back – potentially with interest – at a later date. Credit cards can also be used to withdraw money from an ATM, which is known as a cash advance. Because you’re borrowing money from a bank, credit cards charge you interest on the money you use (unless you repay the entire debt during the interest-free period). When you apply for a credit card, the bank gives you a credit limit which sets the maximum amount you can borrow using your card. Credit cards are one of the most popular methods of payments and can be a convenient way of paying for goods and services in store, online and all around the globe.

Credit cards are a quick and convenient way to pay for items in store, online or over the phone. You can use a credit card as a cashless way to pay for goods or services, both locally and overseas. You can also use a credit card to make a cash advance, which gives you the flexibility to withdraw cash from your credit card account. Because a credit card uses the bank’s funds instead of your own, you will be charged interest on the money you spend – unless you pay off the entire debt within the interest-free period. If you pay the minimum monthly repayment, you will be charged interest. There are many different credit card options on the market, all offering different interest rates and reward options.

Once you’ve compared credit card interest rates and deals and found the right card for you, the actual process of getting a credit card is quite straightforward. You can apply for a credit card online, over the phone or in person at a bank branch. To get a credit card, you will need proof of identity and proof of income and employment as well as details of your current financial situation. The whole process generally takes 15-20 minutes, and if your application is approved, you should have your credit card within 10-14 days. When applying for a credit card, look out for features like credit limits, annual and other payment fees, interest rates and other incentives like interest-free days and rewards points.

Credit cards aren’t something you want to collect unnecessarily. If you’ve paid the balance off or have upgraded to a new credit card, it’s important to cancel your old cards to avoid any additional fees. Unless you’re doing a balance transfer, you’ll need to pay the outstanding balance before you cancel your credit card. If you’ve opted for a card with reward points, make sure you redeem or transfer the points before you close your account. To avoid any bounced payments and save yourself an admin headache, redirect all your direct debits to a new card or account. Once you’ve done all the preparation, call your bank or credit card provider to get the cancellation underway. Once you receive a confirmation letter, destroy your card and make sure the numbers aren’t legible.

You can apply for a credit card online, over the phone or in person at the bank. Once you’ve compared the current credit card offers, the application process is quick and easy. Before you get your application started, you’ll need to gather your personal information like proof of ID, payslips and bank statements, proof of employment and details of your income, assets and liabilities. To be eligible for a credit card, you’ll need to be an Australian citizen over 18 and earn a minimum of $15,000 each year. Once you’ve applied for a credit card, you should get a response fairly instantly. If your credit card application has been approved, you should receive a welcome pack with your new credit card within 10-15 days.

The numbers on your credit card actually follow a universal standard which is used to identify specific functions. Each credit card has a different amount of numbers: Visa and Mastercard have 16, American Express has 15 and Diner’s Club has 14. The first number on a credit card always identifies what type of credit card it is. Visa cards start with a 4, whereas Mastercard starts with a 5 and American Express with a 3. The remainder of the digits represent the account number, including the last number which is used to verify that your credit card is actually valid. Credit cards also have additional verification numbers, which are mainly used when the card isn’t present for phone and online purchases. These are the three-digit numbers on the back of Visa and MasterCard or the four-digit numbers on the front of an American Express card.

A credit card can be an easy way to make purchases online, in person or over the phone. When used properly, a credit card can even help you manage your cash flow. But before applying for a credit card, it’s good to know how they work. A credit card is essentially a personal line of credit which lets you buy things and pay for them later. As a card holder, you’ll be given a credit limit and (potentially) charged interest on the money the bank lends you. At the end of each billing period, the bank will send you a statement which shows your outstanding balance and the minimum amount you need to pay back. If you don’t pay back the full balance amount, the bank will begin charging you interest.

Credit cards are a personal responsibility, so the reasons behind getting a credit card should also be personal.

You should always consider all the pros and cons of taking out a credit card before you sign on the dotted line.

For example, pros include the fact that credit cards can be a good way of paying for purchases, earning rewards points and building a credit history.

But there are also cons – credit cards can be expensive and put a lot of financial pressure on you.

You need to consider your personal finances and your lifestyle choices. Do you need a credit card? What options are out there for me? Can I handle the repayments? Why am I getting a credit card in the first place?

To get a new credit card, generally you need to be at least 18 years old and have a good credit rating. You don’t need to be an Australian citizen. Usually you can apply online or in person at a branch of the card issuer. You’ll typically have to supply information like:

What you regularly earn (e.g. wages, salary) and what you regularly spend (e.g. rent/mortgage, loan repayments, living expenses)

Your employer’s contact details

Details of your assets and any debts you are paying off

Before applying for any credit card, be sure you can afford the repayments. It also helps to do some research, comparing different credit cards and what they offer in terms of fees, interest, rewards etc.

Credit card interest can quickly turn a manageable balance into unmoveable debt. So being able to understand how interest rates translate into dollars is an important skill to acquire.

The common mistake people make is focusing on the credit card’s annual percentage rate (APR), which often sits between 15 and 20 per cent. While the APR does provide a rough idea of how much interest you’ll pay, it’s not entirely accurate.

This is because you actually accrue interest on your balance daily, not annually. So, you need to work out your daily periodic rate (DPR). To do this, divide your card’s APR by the number of days in a year (e.g. 16.9 per cent divided by 365, or 0.05 per cent). You can then apply this figure to the daily balance on your credit card.

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